Mattress Circular Economy Advances at 2025 ISPA Sustainability Conference

The 2025 International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) Sustainability Conference, held September 10-11 in Atlanta, focused on driving the circular economy in the sleep products industry. Bringing together suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers, and sustainability professionals, the event emphasized collaboration to tackle sustainability challenges and accelerate mattress recycling and circular design efforts.

Key Themes and Highlights

Mattress Recycling Complexities

Matt Young, president of Sustainable Material LLC, demonstrated mattress disassembly on stage, revealing the difficulty recyclers face due to the diverse mattress constructions—different foam types, coils, layers, and covers. Michelle Williams of Mat Recyclers and Terry McDonald of St. Vincent de Paul Society emphasized the lack of standardization in mattress design as a key barrier. McDonald urged manufacturers to inform recyclers about new mattress components, aiding the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC) in preparing for innovations.

Refurbishment as a Sustainable Solution

Simba Sleep, a UK boxed-bed brand, showcased refurbishment as an effective sustainability strategy for comfort returns. Partnering with The Furniture Recycling Group, Simba sends gently used mattresses for sanitization and repair before resale. Emma Reid, Simba’s sustainability director, reported refurbishment contributes significantly to revenue and consumer demand driven by price and sustainability motivations. This approach diverts up to 10% of mattresses from recycling streams by repurposing reusable items.

Emission Tracking and Investor Priorities

Robbie Moon, Georgia Tech associate professor, led sessions on greenhouse gas emissions tracking tailored for industry professionals seeking to enhance reporting and reduction plans. Investors Priyanka Shome (One Rock Capital Partners) and Andrew Prusky (FXI) highlighted the importance of executive-level commitment to ESG initiatives. Their firms implement sustainability roadmaps within 100 days of investment, engaging operational teams in waste reduction and energy efficiency efforts to maximize impact.

Corporate Circularity Journeys and Industry Inspiration

Tim Thiel, circular economy manager at Covestro, shared the company’s mission to embed circularity as a core principle over the past half-decade. Covestro aims for climate neutrality and sustainable product design, ensuring all employees understand and contribute to these goals. Deborah Mielewski, retired Ford sustainability fellow, reminded attendees that while the sustainability path is challenging, historical environmental victories offer inspiration to persist.

Conclusion

The 2025 ISPA Sustainability Conference reinforced the mattress industry’s commitment to a circular economy. By addressing recycling challenges, embracing refurbishment, advancing emissions tracking, and fostering corporate commitment, the sleep products sector is making tangible strides toward sustainability goals. Continued collaboration and innovation remain essential to transforming waste into resource efficiency, reducing carbon footprints, and meeting evolving investor and consumer expectations.

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